Flowers and planting

Another month gone by so fast it seems.   It was nice very warm and windy today.  A thunderstorm late in the evening to water a few plants I set out so far.  I found 8 packs of flowers at Roses dept store for $3.99 an 8 pack.

I purchased this planter, well actually two of them for the same price of the plants. 

Coleus which is so pretty in the summer and just as pretty as flowers with those colorful leaves

These zinnias are going around the lamp post I just pulled weeds from.

I have pots in the ground for other flowers that the critters seem to always get.

I have more to go in.  The mums I purchased last year are in this bed coming back.  I will leave them here.  The other two plants whose name escapes me have come back in the pots in ground also. 

I think I may put some Portulaca or maybe some petunias in the ground here at the rocks to hang over. 

Below pic just before the plantings. The bed in the distance is showing lavender growing.

It's time for some more plantings of Lavender. This one is thick and pretty now but I lost several old plants of it this year, so I need to start some more cuttings.  This stuff grows so fast. 

This little boxwood I have been shaping for a couple seasons.  I have another I am shaping in the pot also. 

I decided to go to Dollar Tree and get some artificial flowers to put in my pots outside.

They will be pretty until it gets too hot and then my seeds in pots will be up and I will just toss these. 

I rather have the harder plastic ones but can't find them at the moment.  

I thought this little arrangement was pretty.  I just took the picture so I could remember how to make it.

Back outdoors, my petunias are up that I leave in the ground year after year. Nothing gets them at the base of this boxwood. So here they stay. 

Hyacinths are coming up with them. The scent is strong in the evenings. 

Getting away from plants at the moment and sharing this cinnamon bread.  It's made with Greek yogurt, I guess you could use any kind.  I think raisins would be good in here too. The baking dish it's in I found at a thrift shop.  I should have cut back the parchment paper but no problem in the oven anyway.  I love baking in this paper.  I just lift the edges of paper right out of the dish. 

I found recipe online and it's a good one. Fast and easy. 

I used parchment as I stated and not a greased loaf pan. 

I also did not put the cinnamon in the batter.  I mixed cinnamon and sugar and sprinkled in between dough scooped in dish. 

I think next time I will use some rum flavoring.  This time no vanilla, I used butter extract. 

I didn't use a hand mixer either.  I mixed the sugar, egg, oil by hand.  

This is the thick dough going into the dish.  I did trim the parchment paper some with scissors before oven. 

Sprinkled cinnamon sugar between and on top of bread.

I am not going to lie; this is so tasty moist and delicious.  I have made this several times. I have used the dough recipe for blueberry bread and any other fruit one may like.

 I made this with frozen blueberries since baking this first loaf.  Frozen blue berries tossed in flour then added to mix. 

Warm with butter and a cup of coffee 

Well, that's it for today. 

Til next time

Betsy